Special Welding Program to Train Welders to Work in the Trailer Industry at Paris Junior College
WELDING
Maverick Maxey, left, and Billy Hill enroll in the welding program at the PJC-Sulphur Springs Center. This program will train welders to work in the trailer industry. Enrollment is open now.
Paris Junior College — located in Paris, Texas, about 100 miles northeast of Dallas — has been a part of the Lamar County community since 1924.
Paris Junior College offers Associate in Arts, Associate in Science and Associate in Applied Science degrees, as well as Certificates of Proficiency in technical/workforce fields. The college has expanded its academic curriculum through the years to encourage associate degree and university transfer candidates. Since establishing its first vocational program — jewelry and watchmaking in 1942 — the college has been aggressive in adding technical/workforce programs that will benefit students entering the workforce.
The campus of 54 tree-shaded acres includes 20 major buildings and residence halls and provides students a unique and pleasant environment for learning.
Paris Junior College also operates centers in Sulphur Springs, Texas, and in Greenville, Texas.
Vision
To be the educational provider of choice for the region.
Mission
Paris Junior College is a comprehensive community college serving the region’s educational and training needs while strengthening the economic, social and cultural life of our diverse community.
Sulphur Springs ISD Receives Best Rating Possible On Annual Audit
8 Personnel Changes Will Impact 5 District Campuses
Sulphur Springs ISD received the top rating on the annual independent auditor. Trustees during the regular school board meeting Jan. 9, 2023, also approved eight personnel changes, announced candidate filing dates for two seats on the school board and heard a brief update on the SSISD 2021-2022 Texas Performance Reporting System report.
Annual Audit
Taylor and Company, PC
Robert Lake with Rutherford, Taylor and Company, PC., presented the annual financial and compliance report accountants conducted on 2021-2022 school district finances.
Lake said while there are a few new things in the report, overall, they did not have any significant impact on the outcome of the audit.. More importantly, Lake reported, Sulphur Springs ISD received an “unmodified opinion, the best you can receive.”
The business’ audit of internal controls and compliance found they had not changed; they remain unmodified. In fact, Lake noted, “across all facets of the audit, everything looks great.”
Lake commended the district for its 98.7% tax collection rate, which increases to more than 100% when delinquent collections and fees are added. SSISD is one of only a few school districts that still collect their own taxes, which officials stated, is why the tax collection rate is so high.
The district finished out the 2021-2022 school year which concluded Aug. 31, 2022, about $1 million under budget for the year, Lake pointed out from the annual audit report.
Personnel Items
The eight personnel changes approved by Sulphur Springs ISD Board of Trustees following an executive session Monday night will impact five district campuses.
Chasity Roy’s resignation as a Title 1 aide at Sulphur Springs Middle School was accepted as was that of Sulphur Springs Elementary math aide Melina Rivera.
Two SSISD employees were approved to swap jobs. Both receptionist Jerika Hankins and at-risk aide Sandra Forshee will remain on the Sulphur Springs Middle School campus. However, Hankins was approved to become the new Middle School receptionist and Forshee will become an at-risk aide.
Five people were approved to join the SSISD staff. Alicia Henderson will become a Title 1 aide at Bowie Primary. At Rowena Johnson Primary, Lori Nix assumes the role of third grade English language arts/reading teacher while Hannah-Kay Brazel becomes a behavior aide. Finally, rounding out the list of new staff approved by the trustees Monday night as the new career and technology education business teacher at Sulphur Springs High School was Nickie Smith.
Trustees Election
Those interested in serving on the Sulphur Springs ISD Board of Trustees may begin filing candidacy Wednesday morning, Jan. 18, with filing continuing from weekdays through Feb. 19. Filing will be conducted from 8 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays, through Feb. 19, 2023,
The election is slated to be held Saturday, May 6, 2023. All places on Sulphur Springs school board are at-large, so the two candidates receiving the most votes at the conclusion of the election on May 6 will be elected to the school board.
Robert Cody and Robbin Vaughn, who have continued to be reelected to the board since 2014, are currently serving in the two seats up for election in May. Neither trustee indicated whether or not they plan to seek another term on the school board.
Applications for a place on the ballot may be downloaded from the SSISD website, www.ssisd.net. From the About SSISD menu on the main page of the website, select SSISD Board of Trustees, then select the School Board Election Information. An Application for a Place on the Ballot and Form CTA (Campaign Treasurer Appointment). Both must be completed and filed in the Tax Office of the SSISD Administration Building, 631 Connally Street.
Candidate applications may also be obtained in the SSISD Tax Office. All applications filed are public records and open to inspection upon request.
To be eligible for candidacy in a school board election, the individual must be 18 years of age or older; a US citizen; have lived in the state for 12 months, and in the district for 6 months on the date of the regular filing deadline, or the election date if a write-in candidate; and be registered to vote in the trustees election.
Trustee candidates may not have been determined by a final judgment of a court exercising probate jurisdiction to be totally mentally incapacitated or partially mentally incapacitated without the right to vote; not have been finally convicted of a felony from which the person has not been pardoned or otherwise released from the resulting disabilities.
School board election qualifications and eligibility information may be found in SSISD Board Policy BBA(LEGAL). A Candidate’s Guide to Primary and General Elections may be accessed by clicking here.
For additional SSISD Board Elections information, call SSISD Tax Assessor/CollectorSandra Gibby at 903-885-2153, extension 1111.
Other Items
Superintendent Michael Lamb gave a brief report on the 2021-2022 Texas Performance Reporting System. Trustees received 6 pages, which are a quick snapshot with district STAAR scores broken down by grade level, test and social economic and other student subsets so the board members can begin looking over the data.
Lamb noted the TPRS is based on data that is released in December, which encapsulates data the district received and presents in August. A full report is slated to be reviewed at the Feb. 13, 2023, SSISD Board of Trustees meeting by administrators. The full TPRS report is available online on the Texas Education Agency website.
One notable change in reporting is that whereas in the past school scores were based on pass or fail. Now, however, scores reflect “at or approaches,” “at or meets” and “masters” grade level on tests.
Most students’ score across the state reflected the impact of lost lessons due to COVID-19 shutdowns in 2021 test scores. That did not seem, in some instances, to catch up to SSISD students until the 2021-2022 school year in some areas. In other areas, the district scored higher than state averages. While some scores are lower at the lower testing grade levels, students appear to have caught up by the time they exit middle school.
Following an executive session, SSISD Board of Trustees reviewed and discussed options for facilities and future bond possibilities. The board also discussed these matters during a special board meeting last week.
Another meeting of SSISD Board of Trustees is slated to be conducted at 5:30 p.m. Monday, January 23, 2023.
Mississippi Escaped Inmate Accused of Dumping Stolen Church Van in Lake Fork Arrested, 1 Still Missing
An escaped inmate from Mississippi who is accused of dumping a church van used in the escape in Wood County’s Lake Fork has been arrested and is being held in Dallas County.
Tyler Payne, 31, was booked into Dallas County Jail early Tuesday morning and is being held on charges of aggravated robbery and failure to identify as a fugitive.
Dallas County records show that Payne is also being held on five other charges from Hinds County in Mississippi including:
- Auto burglary
- Business burglary
- Church burglary
- Motor vehicle taking
- Escape from Raymond Detention Center, original charge armed carjacking
Payne and Traverro McElroy, 36, who officials said escaped with Payne from the detention center, allegedly stole a church van in Mississippi before driving it to Texas.
The Quitman Fire Department diver team found and recovered the van from Lake Fork, according to the Wood County Sheriff’s Office.
After the van’s recovery, officials in Wood County said they were working closely with the Texas Rangers and Hinds County Sheriff’s Office.
“Neither escapee has any ties to the Wood County area, however they do have ties in the Dallas/Fort Worth area,” Wood County officials said.
McElroy is described by officials as a Black man, 5’5″ tall and 120 pounds with dread style hair. He is considered armed and dangerous.
According to Wood County, McElroy had been incarcerated on a murder charge before his escape.
Should you have any information regarding the suspects please contact the authorities immediately.
Fisher-Price® Rock ‘n Play Sleeper Recall
The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a voluntary recall of all Fisher-Price® Rock ‘n Play Sleepers.
Infant fatalities have occurred in Rock ‘n Play Sleepers, after the infants rolled from their back to their stomach or side while unrestrained, or under other circumstances.
On April 12, 2019, at the time the original recall was announced, over 30 fatalities were reported to have occurred in the Rock ‘n Play Sleepers after the infants rolled from their back to their stomach or side while unrestrained, or under other circumstances. Since the recall, approximately 70 additional fatalities have been reported, which includes at least 8 fatalities that were reported to have occurred after the initial recall announcement.
Fisher-Price notes that in some of the reports, it has been unable to confirm the circumstances of the incidents or that the product was a Rock ‘n Play Sleeper.
If you own a Rock ‘n Play Sleeper, discontinue use of the item immediately.
For more information on this recall click Here
For more information on how to obtain a refund for your purchase click Fisher Price Refund
SH 19 North Traffic Stop Nets Cocaine, Drug Paraphernalia, 1 Controlled Substance Arrest
Marijuana, THC Vape Pen Found During I-30 Traffic Stop
A State Highway 19 north traffic stop netted cocaine, drug paraphernalia and one felony controlled substance arrest Sunday night. Marijuana and a THC vape pen were found during an Interstate 30 traffic stop last week.
SH 19 North Traffic Stop
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Deputy Isaac Foley reported stopping a Toyota Camry with a defective head light and a defective license plate light at 7:27 p.m. Jan. 8, 2023, on SH 19 north at County Road 4778. As he spoke with the two men in the car, Foley alleged he could smell a marijuana odor emitting from inside the Camry. Foley had both both men step out so he could conduct a probable cause search in the car; a clear container with a baggy containing a white powdery substance suspected to be cocaine was found in a backpack in the backseat and other drug paraphernalia found elsewhere in the car, Foley alleged in arrest reports.
After detaining and reading both men their rights, the passenger claimed the backpack and contents. The driver and car were released, but passenger David Valenzuela was placed under arrest at 8:10 p.m. and transported to Hopkins County jail. The substance field tested positive for cocaine and weighed 0.606 gram including packaging. The 29-year-old Bay City, Texas man was booked into Hopkins County jail at 9:21 p.m. Jan. 8, 2023, on a possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1/1-B controlled substance charge, according to arrest reports.
Valenzuela was released from Hopkins County jail on bond Monday, Jan. 9, 2023, on the felony controlled substance charge, according to jail records.
I-30 Traffic Stop
Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper G. Rodriguez reported stopping the driver of a GMC Sierra at 10:13 a.m. Jan. 3, 2023, near mile marker 135 on I-30 east for speeding and failure to signal a lane change. Ultimately, the highway patrol trooper reported, Kevin Edward Rowe was found following a canine alert to be in possession of a green, leafy substance which the trooper believed based on his training and experience patrolling to be marijuana and a vape pen containing a brown substance suspected to be THC.
The 43-year-old from Sykesville, Maryland (a small town in Carroll County, Maryland, about 20 miles west of Baltimore and 40 miles north of Washington D.C.) was transported to the county jail, where the suspected marijuana weighed 0.754 ounces. Rowe was booked in at 11:39 a.m. on possession of less than 1 gram of Penalty Group 1 2 controlled substance and possession of less than 2 ounces of marijuana charges. He spent the night in jail and was released the next day, according to arrest reports.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
SSHS Wildcat Band Member Levi Caton Selected As All-State Musician On Trumpet
Levi Caton, a member of the Sulphur Springs High School Wildcat Band, will perform with the Texas All-State Symphonic Band on trumpet in San Antonio, Saturday, February 11, 2023, at the Henry B. González Convention Center, as part of the 2023 Texas Music Educators Association Clinic/Convention.
Levi is the 9th student in school history to be named to the All-State Band. The first All-State band member from Sulphur Springs was Kelley Fletcher, who also performed on a trumpet, in 1980.
“We are so proud of Levi! This is the most impressive accomplishment any band student can achieve,” said Spencer Emmert, SSHS head director. “The All-State experience for me in 1998 was one of the top memories I have from high school. We look forward to seeing and hearing Levi at All-State, with the best musicians in all of Texas.”
Levi will sit in the same section that SSMS Head Director Brittany Robinett sat in for three of her four eligible years.
“Trumpet players are special, and I am so excited for Levi to get this opportunity. He will fit right in in San Antonio with the other fine musicians,” Robinett said.
Levi Caton was chosen for this prestigious honor through a competitive process held this year across the state at District, Region, and Area levels. Levi is a junior at Sulphur Springs High School and plays trumpet under the direction of Spencer Emmert, who is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, a 14,000-plus member organization headquartered in Austin. This is Levi’s first time to perform as a member of a TMEA All-State organization. Levi is the child of Kevin Caton and Ailsha Caton.
High school students selected to perform in the All-State concerts have competed through auditions to qualify at the state level. All-State is the highest honor a Texas music student can receive. only 1,875 students are selected through a process that began with over 70,000 students from around the state vying for this honor to perform in one of 18 ensembles.
Texas Music Educators Association sponsors the Texas All-State competition. This competitive process begins throughout the state in auditions hosted by 33 TMEA Regions. Individual musicians perform selected music for a panel of judges who rank each instrument or voice part. From this ranking, a select group of musicians advances from their Region to compete against musicians from other areas in eight TMEA Area competitions. The highest-ranking musicians judged at the TMEA Area competitions qualify to perform in a TMEA All-State music group. Only the top 2.6% of musicians who initially audition become All-State musicians.
These All-State students participate in four days of rehearsals directed by nationally recognized conductors during the TMEA Clinic/Convention. Their performances for thousands of attendees bring this extraordinary event to a close. For the All-State concert and conductor information, go to the Performances section of www.tmea.org/convention.
Overall, more than 30,000 people from Texas and around the world are expected to attend over 290 workshops, 100 performances, and visit over 1,200 exhibit booths at the nation’s largest music educators convention.
Congratulations to Levi Caton for making the Texas All-State Symphonic Band on trumpet.
Inpatient Hemodialysis, Peritoneal Dialysis Offered At CHRISTUS For Patients With End-Stage Renal Disease
By Jennifer Heitman, Senior Market Development, CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs, [email protected]
Sulphur Springs, Texas – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs has ONE mission: To Extend the Healing Ministry of Jesus Christ.
New Service offered: Peritoneal Dialysis
CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital- Sulphur Springs is now offering inpatient hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis for patients battling End-Stage Renal Disease with an acute hospitalization need. We are excited to have these services available in our community.
For questions about the CHRISTUS Mother Frances – Sulphur Springs Inpatient Peritoneal Dialysis or Hemodialysis, please contact Dana Ingram at 903-438-4409 or [email protected].
New Staff
CHRISTUS proudly announces the addition of Umair Sohail, M.D., to our Gastroenterology team in Sulphur Springs. He is board certified in Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology, and Obesity medicine. Dr. Sohail is seeing patients at CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic located at 107 Medical Circle in Sulphur Springs. If you would like to schedule an appointment with Dr. Sohail, please ask your provider for a referral.
CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System includes CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospitals – Tyler, South Tyler, Jacksonville, Winnsboro and Sulphur Springs, the CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Louis and Peaches Owen Heart Hospital – Tyler, CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Rehabilitation Hospital a partner of Encompass Health, Tyler Continue CARE Hospital at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital, a long-term acute care facility, and CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic. CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic is the area’s preferred multi-specialty medical group, with more than 400 Physicians and Advanced Practice Providers representing 36 specialties in 34 locations serving Northeast Texas across 41 counties. For more information on services available through CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System, visit christustmf.org.
- Bed count – 402 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Tyler
- Bed count – 8 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – South Tyler
- Bed count – 25 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Jacksonville
- Bed Count – 96 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs
- Bed count – 25 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Winnsboro
- Bed count – 94 – CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Rehabilitation Hospital
- Bed count – 96 – CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Louis and Peaches Owen Heart – Tyler
- Bed count – 51 – Tyler Continue CARE Hospital at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital
Winnsboro Police Department Media Report Jan. 2-8, 2023
Winnsboro Police Department each week provides a media report with information about department activity. WPD activity for the week of Jan. 2-8, 2023 included:
Arrests
- Justin Osborne, 40 years of age, of Scroggins, was arrested on Jan. 4, 2023, on a Cass County Warrant for Revocation on a Possession of more than 1 gram but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 1 Controlled Substance and two Winnsboro Municipal Court Warrants for Failure to Maintain Financial Responsibility and Failure to Appear.
- Landon Davidson, 20 years of age, of Bogota, was arrested on Jan. 5, 2023, for Possession of 4 Grams or more but Less than 200 grams of a Penalty Group 1/1-B Controlled Substance, Unlawfully Carrying a Weapon, and Prohibited Substance or Item in a Correctional Facility.
Calls for Service
The Winnsboro Police Department responded to a total of 208 calls for service during this reporting period.
Citations
The Winnsboro Police Department issued 112 citations and 61 warnings during this reporting period.
SART Sets Protocol To Reduce Re-Traumatization, Prioritize Safety Of Adult Victims Of Sexual Assault
If you’ve driven downtown, you’ve likely noticed the brightly colored mural on the side of Texas Trading Company. But do you know what those multihued hands reaching up with hearts represents?
Hopkins County Law Enforcement Association, in partnership with Sherwin Williams and Lowes, sponsored the mural, painted by Jacoby Smith, to help promote community awareness for the Sexual Assault Response Team. The SART’s job is to create systems that reduce re-traumatization and prioritize victim safety during investigation and prosecution of alleged sexual assault cases, and in providing assistance to victims of sexual assault.
Similar to the Multiagency Disciplinary Team that works together on sexual assault and abuse cases involving children, the SART focuses more on helping adult victims of sexual assault.
“We have developed a process for how sexual assault cases are to be handled in the 8th District and held a training that addressed sexual assault investigations for law enforcement and telecommunication professionals in the 8th Judicial District and neighboring counties. We also have been promoting community awareness of the SART so that people in our community know about the SART and why we have one,” said Jodi Haney Cox, Assistant District Attorney for Texas’ 8th Judicial District, noting 6-colored mural downtown.
That process includes a written interagency protocol that establishes local and regional processes for investigating and prosecuting sexual assaults, identifying and obtaining medical and forensic care, mental health care and advocacy resources for victims, which meets requirements of Texas Local Government Code 351.256.
In keeping with Chapter 56A of Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, the team prioritizes the health and safety of survivors, including those who choose not to make a police report of the alleged sexual assault. The SART, per the designated protocols also will be responsible for collecting and maintaining statistical data on the number of sexual assaults reported to local law enforcement agencies and the investigation, prosecution and disposition of such offenses, as required by Texas Local Government Code 351.257(A), then provide a written summary to the Commissioners Court by December 1 of every odd numbered year.
Each SART member must participate in a minimum of 4 hours of cross training together each year, and provide a process for information sharing and conflict resolution should any arise between SART members. Case reviews, with signed, written permission of each victim, will allow the SART to evaluate the interagency protocol.
Team members are to attend all scheduled SART meetings, or send their designee. A presiding officer is to be selected to helm the team. Any vacancies on the 8th Judicial District SART must be filled within 30 days of the vacancy occurring. Hopkins County Commissioners Court on Monday, Jan. 9, 2023, approved composition of the SART
Reappointed to the 8th Judicial District Regional SART are:
- Mary Ferguson, Program Director for Shelter Agencies for Families in East Texas Inc., a 501c3 nonprofit organization that opened in 1994 to serve victims of domestic violence and sexual assault here in 9 counties in East Texas, including Hopkins County);
- Will Ramsay, 8th Judicial District Attorney;
- Hopkins County Sheriff Lewis Tatum;
- Sulphur Springs Police Chief Jason Ricketson,
- Kim Basinger, area Sexual Assault Examiner Nurse; and
- Donna Pendleton with Health and Human Services Commission, to assist with prevention efforts.
Cox noted that NETCAC handles quite a few of the sexual assault cases in the 8th Judicial District . Lauren Fleming with NETCAC conducts a lot of outreach efforts in schools. Thus, the ADA and Ramsay proposed adding Fleming to the SART, to assist in prevention education efforts.
Cox also recommended that a hospital representative be added, so there is someone on staff there who knows the SART process and can help. A lot of the individuals whose cases are prosecuted by the district attorney’s office do visit the hospital for an examination. She recommended adding Cassidy Cameron to represent CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs on the SART.
Also recommended for appointment to the team were Delta County Sheriff Charla Singleton, Franklin County Sheriff Ricky Jones, Cooper ISD Police Chief Kenny Stillwagoner, and Amy Dykes with Lakes Region Mental Health authority.
Hopkins County Commissioners Court on Jan. 9, 2023, approved reappointment and appointments to SART as recommended by the DA’s Office. The mural also was designed to show help, love and support for victims of sexual assault while raising awareness about the 8th Judicial District Regional Sexual Assault Response Team. Hopkins County Law Enforcement Association partnered with Sherwin Williams and Lowes to sponsor the mural. Chick-fil-A is another community partner for the SART.
Wildcats Soccer Takes Tuesday Off Before Heading to Palestine for Second Tournament
Coach Alexi Upton and his squad take a bit of a breather Tuesday before heading to Palestine this weekend for another tournament.
This past weekend men’s soccer hosted a tourney, dubbed the 4A Elite Invitational, and the Wildcats performed very well.
A round-robin, group-style tournament, Sulphur Springs played Caddo Mills, North Dallas and Tyler’s Chapel Hill, and with the exception of the latter, the Wildcats won the first two contests 1-0. Aubrey Camacho scored both goals in the wins over their group foes at home.
Against Chapel Hill, Coach Upton’s team tied the final opponent in the gold group 1-1.
Edgar Salazar scored the lone goal for the Wildcats in the tie on Friday.
With that, men’s soccer could play up to two games on Saturday Jan. 7. The first game had them taking on black group winner Diamond Hill-Jarvis, and if they won, they would have played in the championship game later Saturday.
Unfortunately for Sulphur Springs they fell 2-0 to end their participation in their home tourney.
Going 2-1-1 against talented squads from all over Texas, falling only in the semifinals, is huge for men’s soccer as they continue to learn and grow as a team.
Sulphur Springs is slated to play five games this weekend at a rigorous tourney.
Men’s soccer plays Thursday, Jan. 12 against Mexia at 1 P.M.
Friday has two more games on deck for the Wildcats; first against host Palestine at 1 P.M. then against Lindale later Friday at 5:30 P.M.
The final game slated for Coach Upton’s team comes Saturday, Jan. 14 when they take on Mabank at 1 P.M.
KSST is proud to be the official Wildcat and Lady Cat Station. We broadcast Sulphur Springs ISD games year round live on radio. When allowed, we also broadcast games via our YouTube channel.
